My Journey to Launching a Backpack Brand "Maze Fathom": From Design to Prototype

Hello, everyone! I'm beyond thrilled to share the exciting story of how I created my very first backpack and launched my own brand, Maze Fathom. This journey has been a dream in the making, filled with countless lessons, creativity, and hard work. Today, I want to walk you through the process, from the initial spark of inspiration to bringing my designs to life. I build the brand "Maze Fathom"

Why Backpacks? 🎒

So, why did I choose backpacks as the core of my business? Well, for me, it’s all about combining practicality with style. I’ve always had a deep interest in product design, but backpacks, in particular, stood out to me. They are everyday essentials that serve both function and fashion. Everyone needs one, whether for work, travel, or leisure, and there’s so much room for innovation within the space.

The process started with a simple question: "How can I create something that people will love to use, while also solving real-life problems?" And so, my journey into backpack design began!

Lessons Learned Along the Way 💡

Throughout this process, I’ve learned more than I could have ever imagined. One of the key lessons I’ve learned is the importance of balancing form, function, and aesthetics. When I first started out, I was heavily focused on the look of the bag. After all, the design needed to stand out and be stylish! But as I dove deeper, I realized that function is just as important—if not more so.

When I shifted my focus to designing bags that were not just beautiful but also practical, the designs started to come together in a way that made me feel excited about the potential impact on people’s lives.

Turning Concepts into Reality: From Paper Sketches to Tech Packs ✍️

Turning my ideas into actual products was no small feat. I began by creating my first set of concepts, which included a photographer backpack and a leisure backpack. Each of these bags had its own unique needs: the photographer bag needed plenty of compartments for gear, while the leisure bag focused on comfort and casual functionality.

I collaborated with two talented designers to bring in diverse perspectives, ensuring that each backpack would be both high-quality and visually appealing. This was a huge step forward, as it gave me confidence that I was heading in the right direction.

The next step in the journey was creating a paper tech pack. This document was crucial because it acted as a blueprint for the bags, outlining everything from materials and stitching details to measurements and hardware specifications. It was the perfect way to refine my designs and ensure everything was in order before production began.